Miniature electromagnetic relay



8 1958 P. A. AMOURIQ 2,848,661

MINIATURE ELECTROMAGNETIC RELAY Filed Feb. 8, 1955 [val/anal PAUL A.AMOUfi/O INVENTOR.

' MINIATURE ELECTRUMAGNETKC RELAY Paul A. Amouriq, Paris, France,assignor to Brion, lLeroux & Cie, Paris, France, a corporationApplication February 8, 1955, Serial No. 486,921

6 Claims. (Cl. 317-165) The following invention has as its object anelectromagnetic relay whose characteristics, which are definedhereunder, permit the realization of a miniature relay which meanshaving extremely small dimensions so that in conjunction withsub-miniature tubes it ofiers numerous applications in the electronicfield.

The miniature relay, according to this invention, possesses essentiallyinserted in an oblong winding an assembly of three (3) long parts madeof a metallic composition of high magnetic permeability of which two (2)parts are fixed and one is a movable armature, mounted between the two(2) fixed parts on a metallic non-magnetic leaf so that it can bedisplaced under the double effect of the repulsion produced by one ofthe fixed parts and the attraction produced by the other.

As an essential characteristic of this invention, it is these three (3)parts (the two (2) fixed parts and the movable armature) which inthemselves constitute the contacts of the relay.

The relay, in accordance with this invention, is shown for purposes ofexemplification in the attached drawmgs.

Figure 1 is a cross sectional view along the longitudinal axis of therelay;

Figure 2 is the cross-sectional view along the longitudinal axis of aslight variation of the form of design shown in Figure l; and

Figure 3 is a schematic end view of the relay according to Figure l orFigure 2.

In the drawings, l and 2 represent the two (2) fixed parts and 3 themovable armature which assembly is inserted into coil winding 4preferably so mounted it extends slightly beyond the two ends of thecoil.

The movable armature 3 is mounted on an elastic nonmagnetic spring leaf5 which is either attached at one of its ends 6 (Figure 1) orarticulated (Figure 2) and which at its other end is mounted on aninsulating block '7. An insert 8 assures the electrical insulationbetween pieces 1 and 2.

In accordance with one of the characteristics of the relay, its parts 1,2 and 3 consisting of metal or of a magnetic alloy which form inthemselves the contacts of the relay at their ends 9 (piece 1), 10 and10a (piece 3) and 11 (piece 2).

According to another characteristic, it is desirable to submit thecontact forming ends, which may anyway provide for long life due to flatengagement, or one over a relatively large area, to an appropriatetreatment, which preferably may consist in providing these parts with anelectrolytic deposit of metal or of an alloy of the most favorablequalifications such as silver, or palladium, etc., in order to givethese parts the qualities necessary from the point of view of permanenceof the contacts.

On the other hand, in order to insure the function of ZfidfififilPatented Aug. 19, 1958 the relay and the constancy of its qualities itis desirable to mount the assembly in a cylindrical case (not shown),strictly dimensioned to accommodate this assembly which case after beingfilled with an inert or reducing gas is sealed.

In these conditions, the relay presents itself in form of a smallcylindrical tube of dimensions comparable to those of a sub-miniaturetube whose overall dimensions, in order to establish some idea, would bein the order of 8 x 3 x 30 mm., extended on one of its sides by shortlengths of wires necessary for making the connections, such as the wires12, 13 and 14 for the contacts and the wires 15 and 16 for theenergization of coil 4.

It is understood that the invention extends to the application of itscharacteristics as described above to the design of an electromagneticrelay of conventional form for handling either small or large contactpower.

I claim:

1. A miniature electromagnetic relay comprising an elongated coil havingan axial hole therethrough, a first fixed member of magnetic materialextending through the said hole, a second fixed member of magneticmaterial disposed outside of the coil and having an end spaced from anend of the said first member, an armature of magnetic material, and anon-magnetic spring supporting the armature for transverse bodilymovement between the spaced ends of the said first and second members.

2. The invention as recited in claim 1, wherein the said armatureextends into the said hole and the said spring has an end securedsubstantially to the midpoint thereof, the arrangement being such thatupon energization of the coil the inner end of the armature is repelledfrom the said first member and the outer end of the armature isattracted to said end of the second member.

3. The invention as recited in claim 1, wherein the spaced ends of thesaid two members and the armature constitute the contacts of the relay.

4. The invention as recited in claim 1, wherein the spaced ends of thesaid two members and the cooperating end of the armature are plated witha material having good electrical contact properties from the standpointof permanence.

S. A miniature electromagnetic relay comprising an elongated coil havingan axial hole therethrough, a first fixed member of magnetic materialextending through the hole and having an exposed end constituting onefixed contact of the relay, a second fixed member of magnetic materialdisposed outside of the coil and having an end spaced from the exposedend of the first member to con-' stitute a second fixed contact of therelay, an armature made of magnetic material disposed essentially withinthe said hole and having an end movable between the spaced ends of thesaid first two members, a non-magnetic spring normally supporting thesaid armature substantially axially within the said hole, a sealed,cylindrical housing enclosing the coil and the spaced ends of the saidfirst and second members, and connection leads passing through the saidhousing and individually connected to the said two fixed members, thjearmature and the ends of said coil.

6. An electro-magnetic relay comprising an elongated coil having anaxial hole therethrough, a first fixed member of magnetic material,rectangular in section, extending through said hole and with one endportion constituting one fixed relay contact, a second fixed member ofmagnetic material, rectangular in section, extending outside of saidcoil and having an end spaced from the fixed relay contact end portionof said first member and con- 2,848,661 a Y stituting a second fixedrelay contact, with its other end References Cited in the file of thispatent portion extending close to the other end of said first fixedUNITED STATES PATENTS member but insulated therefrom, an armature alsoformed of magnetic material, rectangular in section, and disposed2,485,024 Vale 18, 1949 within said hole adjacent said first fixedmember with an 5 2,555,791 Everett June 1951 end normally disposedflatly between said spaced end con- 2609;464 BI'OWH p 2, 1952 tactportions of said fixed members, and a non-magnetic 2,767,279 Hall 16,1956 sprin normally sn portin said armature in said hole betweefi saidmembsrs, whireby said armature is bodily FOREIGN PATENTS movable betweenflat engagement with the contacts of 10 307,773 Switzerland Aug. 16,1955 said first and second fixed members.

